Background: The importance of a well defined jawline in a male is essentially equivalent to breasts in a female. It is certainly the single most important facial feature for a man and can even be argued that it is the most important overall body feature.
Improving a man’s facial profile has historically been focused on chin augmentation. While the chin is the leading or most predominant feature of the lower face, chin augmentation alone is a short sighted view of the entire jawline. The chin predominantly influences the side profile but neglects the other angles from which the faced is viewed. The influence of the back part of the jaw (jaw angles) today is seen as almost as important as the chin. At the least, the chin and the presence and flare of the jaw angles offers a more complete view of how the face appears from every viewing angle.
The best method for total jawline augmentation is through the use of a custom jawline implant. Today this is made by computer design from the patient’s 3D CT scan. Prior to the emergence of this technology, the custom implant was made off of a 3D plastic model fabricated from a 3D CT scan. Using either clay or a silicone elastomer material, the shape and dimensions of the jawline implant was handmade and than sent for manufacture into a silicone jawline implant.
Case Study: This 30 year-old male wanted to enhance his jawline with a stronger overall effect. He wanted more chin prominence with a wider shape and jaw angle that were more defined. Using a 3D model, the jawline implant was created using a clay material. t was then sent for manufacture into a one piece silicone jawline implant.
Under general anesthesia, the custom jawline implant was placed through three intraoral incisions as a single piece unit. Using one anterior and two posterior vestibular incisions, the implant was placed and using a single chin and two jaw angle 1.5mms screws.
It is hard to argue with the jawline effect of a one-piece implant that extends around the chin from angle to angle. Not only does it make a uniform connection between the chin and the jaw angles but it allows the width of the chin and the flare of the jaw angles to be as one chooses. The artistic element in the implant’s design, however, is what those exact dimensions should be to create the desired external facial effect.
Highlights:
1) The desire for a stronger and more defined jawline is a predominantly younger male request.
2) Total jawline augmentation is usually best done by a custom jawline implant.
3) A custom jawline implant design is historically done by making a clay or silicone elastomer moulage.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana